United States Department of State

Asia Regional Program Operational Plan Report Fy 2013 United States Department of State

Publisher Marketing: The U. S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Asia Regional Program (ARP) is a platform for technical assistance (TA) to national HIV/AIDS programs and their partners (including other PEPFAR programs) throughout Asia, with a special focus on the HIV responses in China, Laos, and Thailand. Activities in China are being included in the ARP for the first time in FY 2013, as PEPFAR's work in that country continues to evolve. The unrivalled pace of development in parts of Asia is being accompanied by accelerated transmission of HIV/AIDS across borders, in urbanized areas, and among key populations. While HIV/AIDS programs in the region have made impressive progress, these gains have been uneven geographically and epidemiologically and most countries are still far from achieving universal access targets. Despite substantial evidence that smart investments in HIV prevention, testing, care, and treatment can prevent the spread of HIV among key populations, critical gaps persist. These gaps underscore the need to identify and implement innovative, life-saving approaches and practices, while at the same time strengthening and increasing the coverage of effective programs that already exist and building the country capacity needed for sustainable local ownership of the HIV/AIDS response. The U. S. Government (USG) is leading the way toward an AIDS-free generation. Our work on health in the region has strongly contributed to this positive impact on people around the world. In FY 2013, the PEPFAR ARP will continue our efforts to help conquer this disease among vulnerable populations in the region and beyond.